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Cirque du Soleil presents Varekai Wednesday through Sunday at Budweiser Gardens. Deep within a forest, at the summit of a volcano, exists an extraordinary world where something else is possible. A world called Varekai. The sky lets go a solitary young man and the story of Varekai begins. Parachuted into the shadows of a magical forest, a kaleidoscopic world imbued with fantastical creatures, a young man takes fl ight in an adventure both absurd and extraordinary.
PHOTO BY JULIA MCKAY/QMI AGENCY

“But it’s also a beautiful story based on the Greek myth of Icarus who flies too close to the sun and his (wax) wings melt.”

Varekai (which means “wherever” in the Romani language) picks up where the myth ends, having Icarus fall into a magical forest where the creatures there help show him “the way.”

“I think it’s a great metaphor for life,” said Napoli. “In life, we all fall flat at times and have to pick ourselves up and stand tall.”

Varekai has been delighting audiences around the world since it opened in Montreal in 2002. Designed for the big top tent, the show was adapted to be staged in arenas, a tour that began last December.

“This gives us a chance to bring it to more venues to more people and, hopefully, build new audiences,” said Napoli.

In promotional material, Cirque du Soleil describes the show as paying “tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition, and to the infinite passion of those whose quest takes them along the path that leads to Varekai.”

Varekai has garnered rave reviews around the world, some suggesting it’s the best of the company’s many offerings over the 30 years since the company was founded in Montreal.

Aside from the costumes, music and dance, Varekai includes Icarian games (where a performer uses his feet to flip, twirl and spin another performer), aerial hoops, aerial straps, clowns, juggling, baton twirling, hand balancing and other acrobatics.

“I think this show will appeal to everyone,” Napoli said.

“You can take in the deeper meaning, or just take it for what it is aesthetically. Everyone can relate to it. It’s a love story. It’s poetic. It’s not a show to be missed.”